Kelcie Reed, 24, has been handed an 18-week suspended prison sentence after her XL bully dog fatally attacked her cousin Morgan Dorsett, a 19-year-old from Shrewsbury, at Reed's flat in south Bristol. The attack occurred on 26 February 2025, and Reed admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control that caused the death. At Bristol Crown Court on 9 July 2026, Judge Anna Richardson suspended the sentence for 18 months and ordered Reed to undergo mental health treatment.
Morgan died from severe neck and facial injuries sustained during the attack. Emergency services were called to the flat on Cobhorn Drive in Bishopsworth at 7.19pm, but despite their efforts, the teenager could not be saved. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as bites to the neck and face. The dog, named Prince, was sedated at the scene and subsequently euthanised by police.
How did the case progress through the courts?
The matter first reached court in April 2026 when Reed appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court, with the case then transferred to Bristol Crown Court. According to reporting from the time of her guilty plea, Reed entered a guilty plea on 27 May 2026 and was released on bail with strict conditions ahead of sentencing. Those conditions included a ban on owning or controlling any dog while awaiting the court proceedings.
What did the judge say?
Judge Richardson acknowledged Reed's acceptance of responsibility during the proceedings.
Rather than putting everyone through the additional trauma of a trial, you accepted responsibility. You are someone who has over the last 18 months done what they needed to do to try and move forward. You need to continue to do that.Reed, who appeared emotional throughout the hearing, wept in the dock as the sentence was delivered.
What was the background to the incident?
Police initially faced uncertainty about the dog's exact breed before it was later confirmed to be an XL Bully. Avon and Somerset Police described the death as "extremely unusual" and said they were investigating the full circumstances of what occurred. The victim's family characterised Morgan as a "lovely and compassionate" young woman.
Reed had been living in Lawrence Weston, Bristol at the time of the incident. The case drew attention to the broader issue of dangerous dog incidents involving the XL Bully breed, which has been the subject of increased scrutiny and regulatory measures in the United Kingdom.
Key Facts
- Morgan Dorsett, 19, died from neck and facial injuries on 26 February 2025 at a flat in Bishopsworth, Bristol
- Kelcie Reed, 24, admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing death
- The dog, named Prince, was sedated and humanely destroyed following the attack
- Reed received an 18-week suspended sentence and was ordered to undergo mental health treatment
- The case progressed from Bristol Magistrates' Court in April 2026 to sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on 9 July 2026
